Meet the RISE Directors

Jeff Nowaczyk

Executive Director- Midwest Region (serving MI, IL, WI and Ontario)

Jeff brings a high-level of softball experience and knowledge to RISE Softball- Midwest Region. After completing his college baseball career at Central Michigan University he became the Assistant Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Northwood University. Nowaczyk has served as a catching and hitting instructor for 12 years; working camps, clinics, and private lessons throughout the Midwest Region. For the last 5 years Jeff has worked as an assistant scouting director and event coordinator for Prep Baseball Report Michigan, a high school baseball scouting service. Nowaczyk is a top level, competitive ASA/ISC Men’s Fast Pitch Softball player. Last season, Nowaczyk played for the #1 ISC ranked Men’s Fast Pitch Team in the world, Hill United Chiefs, as a catcher/infielder. In February 2017, Nowaczyk was named to the USA Men’s National Fast Pitch Team where he is currently a 3X Team USA Member representing the Red, White and Blue at the International Softball Federation World Softball Championships in Whitehorse, Yukon, the Pan American Games Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Domican Republic (Winning a Bronze Medal), and the ISF International Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jon is a longtime Mens fastpitch softball players and former collegiate baseball player. Since the completion of his college baseball career at Delta CC, Jon has worked as an Assistant Coach with softball programs at the High School, Junior College, and NCAA Div I & II levels. Jon has hosted and worked many camps & clinics across the midwest region. For the past 6 years, Jon and has given private pitching instruction. As a players, Jon has competes at the highest levels of the game and recently pitched for Team USA at the ISF International Cup Challenge in Prague, Czech Republic.

Danielle is a Westchester, IL native and a graduate of Narzareth Academy High School (Playing 4yrs of Varsity Softball). Danielle playd travel softball for the Oak Park Windmills for 5 years. Upon graduation, Danielle attended NCAA Div II Northwood University in Midland, MI to play play college softball. During her time as a 4 year short-stop, she earned her BBA and MBA degrees. She has coaching experience with 12U-16U travel organizations and is currently an Assistant JV Softball Coach at Nazareth Academy.

Nichole brings a good combination of softball knowledge as well as a solid business background surrounding sports. Before a nagging rotator cuff injury interrupted time on the playing field, Nichole played one season of college softball as a pitcher/outfielder. When sports on the field were hindered by injury, Nichole focused on keeping sport in her life and went on to earn a degree in Sport Management from Ithaca College. She has spent several years coordinating and hosting sporting events in the Syracuse area and enjoys involvement in nationally recognized organizations like Little League. Nichole recently joined the New York Collegiate Baseball League Syracuse Spartans Board of Directors as the Social Media Director and will be assisting them with the kick-off of their very first season in the league. When she isn’t coordinating and planning year round RISE Softball scouting events, you can find her at a baseball field somewhere watching her own boys play. In her spare time she enjoys working out at the gym, day trips to catch area sporting events and playing a little golf. Nichole finds nothing more rewarding than knowing she played a part in a high school softball player’s dream of playing at the next level.